Quote:
Originally Posted by
atomicmew 
You know what already has amazing solar efficiency, better than photovoltaics? Photosynthesis by plants.
You know what already is an amazing energy storage medium better than hydrogen fuel cells? Biofuels derived from plants.
So why reinvent the wheel?
No I did not know plants convert that much energy from the sun. I am very curious to learn more if you have some good info.
I deffinetly agree biofuels are amazing. Algae is the most promising and we could already have it up an running. With little investment a study showed that you could start with little algae and scale up to commercial production in weeks or months. It is so easy since algae grows so fast.
Biofuels have their place as another option but are only going to be a trasition at best. Compared to fuel cells there is still more pollution since your still burning some sort of organic material. Hydrogen has zero pollution assuming the energy has no pollution and is the most plentiful.
If not hyrdrogen it will be batteries. Obviously batteries need to come a very long way but when they do it will be an obvious choice of hydrogen b/c it will still be a liquid or even with solid state hydrogen you still need to get more. Once batteries are good enough charging will be quick enough and wireless. Mit also came up with a liquid that you can charge. Basically a liquid battery.
I don't consider it reinventing the wheel at all and even if it is so what? It's just progress, innovation and the inevitable march of technology. Same way all other tech is.
